SEC Indoor Preview (Men)

(Arkansas-2013 Indoor SEC/NCAA Champions)

The SEC is always the most talked about conference in the country. The most talked about topic in regards to the conference is the speed. The same is said about the track programs, the sprinters are world class. However the sprinters are the only fast athletes on the track there are also world class distance runners who seem to amaze on the international scene year in and year out. This year maybe one of the best yet.


SPRINTS

As usual we will start off talking about the sprinters. In the SEC making it to the conference final is just as challenging as in the NCAA Championship. This conference lost two studs in Isaiah Young of Ole Miss and Ameer Webb of Texas A&M. However the returning and entering talent is un-matched anywhere in the country.

In the 60 meter dash we have the returning champion Markesh Woodson of Missouri. Woodson a talented freshman last season blazed a star studded field to clock in at 6.60. He faces a strong field of qualified competitors. From Florida Hugh Graham and Antwan Wright, Texas A&M Prezel Hardy and LSU Aaron Ernest. The challenge many of his competitors will have to face is being able to compete with Woodson's fast start. Woodson too will have to make adjustments this season with a new coach in Carjay Lyles.

Ernest of LSU is the returning champion in the 200 meter dash and had a stellar season which also resulted in All-American honors. Ernest blazed the track last indoor season to the time of 20.53. Now a junior Ernest looks to build on SEC success to possibly claiming the national title. Dedric Dukes of Florida and Hardy of Texas A&M will look to challenge him for the title.

The 400 is perhaps the deepest event on the track. Returning are two athletes who competed at the World Championships this past summer in Russia. Defending champion Deon Lendore of Texas A&M by way of Trinidad and Tobago and Arman Hall of Florida competing for Team USA. Both athletes have gone under 45 seconds outdoors. Joining Hall is teammates Najee Glass and Hugh Graham. With Lendore will be Aldrich Bailey to help make this the deepest event in the conference.

The hurdles returns both NCAA Champions from last season. Eddie Lovett from Florida was the indoor champion in the 60 meter hurdles while Wayne Davis of Texas A&M is the outdoor defending champion in the 110 hurdles. Lovett has the better start with Davis the better finish. Davis can rest confidently in knowing that he can defeat Lovett. Expect for Lovett to defend his title and improve on his outdoor finish as well.


DISTANCE

Arkansas, Arkansas and yes more Arkansas. That is what distance has been about in this conference. It is difficult for other programs to compare when you have the winningest track and field program in your conference primarily due to the distance program. This season is no exception with a bevy of talented returnees.They will still find challenge from conference foe Florida.

In the 800 Florida returns two impressive performers. Defending champion Sean Obinwa and Ryan Schnulle. Joining them will be the nation's top 800 runner from high school last season Andres Arroyo and Alabama High School Champion Donnie Lee. The Gators have put together quite a mid-distance group and will be looking to advance all four to the finals in the 800. Charles Gethren of Georgia and Thomas Squella of Arkansas are also threats to claim the title in the event.

In the men's mile Arkansas seems to be the team with the most talent. Arkansas returns 2 All-SEC performers in the event. Patrick Rono and Kemoy Campbell. Arkansas also has enough talent and depth to add to both Rono and Campbell. However both will have to contend with defending champion Matt Hillenbrand of Kentucky.

In the 3,000 and 5,000 it looks to be more of Arkansas. Henry Lelei of Texas A&M was a dominant figue in the conference last season winning both events at the Indoor Championships. Stanley Kebeni of Arkansas steps into that role this season as the top returnee in both events after finishing 2nd to Lelei at the last indoor championships. Kebeni will be joined by teammates Campbell and Solomon Haile.



FIELD EVENTS

In the field events, yes there is more Arkansas here as well. In the High Jump top returnee Anthony May is expected to earn big points not just in the high jump but in the triple jump as well. Teammate Noah Kettleson is also a returning All-SEC high jumper and will look to help May complete a 1-2 punch.

In the Pole Vault Arkansas has the benefit of having the defending champion on their side in Andrew Irwin. Irwin had a stellar season in 2013 and looks to translate that same success over to 2014. Jake Blaneship of Tennessee looks to represent that proud Tennessee tradition which has produced so many great pole vaulters.

The Long Jump and triple jump has historically been solid for Arkansas. There have been many NCAA Champions to come out of this great program. This year they will have to thwart off Florida's ace in Marquis Dendy the defending champion in the long jump and top returnee in the triple jump. Even if Arkansas is not able to take Dendy off the top spot. Arkansas still has quite a group of athletes able to score big points, Jarrion Lawson, Raymond Higgs and May.

In the throwing events only one champion returns, Stephen Saenz of Auburn in the men's shot put. Saenz who competes for Mexico is also an NCAA All-American from last season. He has double duty fighting off to great returnees from Georgia in Caleb Whitener and Nick Vena. Saenz also a returnee in the weight throw looks to claim the title over top returnee Elias Hakansson of Alabama.

In the multi-event competition Georgia brings a full house load of talent. They return three of the top 4 heptathletes from last season including defending champion Garrett Scantling. Teammates Maicel Ubo and Devon Williams look to help make it a 1-2-3 sweep this time around. They will have to fight off Arkansas top man in Nathanel Franks. Scantling finished at the top in nearly every event last indoor season and will to do much of the same to claim the title this time around.


TEAM BATTLE

Florida returns a very potent team which is the reason for their number 2 ranking. However Arkansas was ranked number 1 for a reason. This season they have may not have as much sprint power but they have serious depth in every other area and will still field two great relays. I believe Arkansas will claim the SEC Indoor title.